Topic: Sound check recording: before or after main show?

[checht]

I've always positioned sound check recording before the rest of the show, b/c that's how it occured in real time.

But wondering if after the show would be best, as some folks won't want to listen to it?

Thoughts?

[roffels]

I generally don't share soundcheck stuff. I kind of feel like I'm a guest in those situations, and it's a privilege to be in that space. I record, but I don't want to betray that trust. I'm sure some folks I'm taping couldn't care less.

But for my own listening, I usually have them as a separate set altogether.

[AbbyTaper]

I always place them first

[Gutbucket]

Good points.  Love listening to some of them!  Others not so much.  The best can provide for a deeper connection and insight into the band.  The listener is a fly on the wall, and it sometimes feels like you are the only one other than the band and sound guy paying attention as they launch into a great tune and then screech to an unexpected stop.  The good short and sweet ones often make for a nice intro warm up to playback of the full concert.

These digital days, I like the full concert event in linear order. Jumping to the concert start is easy.  Back in the cassette days, as filler, placed at the end on the unused lead-out, eliminating the need to FFW to find the start.  Pop it in the cassette player and go.

[if_then_else]

A bit off topic but I wished I had recorded some sound-checks when some members of some of my favourite bands suddenly started to play cover versions of other bands (they usually don't play those songs live). That would have made for an interesting live compilation.

[hoserama]

When I pull out a recording, I'm typically wanting to hear the main show. So I start that first. Soundcheck would be separate or bonus tracks at the end. Just my preference.

[yltfan]

I generally don't share soundcheck stuff. I kind of feel like I'm a guest in those situations, and it's a privilege to be in that space. I record, but I don't want to betray that trust. I'm sure some folks I'm taping couldn't care less.

But for my own listening, I usually have them as a separate set altogether.

Yeah, same. Especially since so much of it is chatter about levels.

[meltycrayon]

When I pull out a recording, I'm typically wanting to hear the main show. So I start that first. Soundcheck would be separate or bonus tracks at the end. Just my preference.

Same. But it's also so easy to move it where you want it in the fileset. It's not like having to fast forward or rewind a cassette.

[phil_er_up]

Always place them first.

One time at Melvin Seals and JGB the FOH sound person Armando said to us taping - If you record the Sound check you will lose taping privilege. None of recorded the Sound check though I had in the past and they never said anything to me. So never thought the band not want the sound check to be released.

[u2_fly_2]

Soundchecks are usually interesting stuff...I tend to put them after the main set as a bonus kind of sorts...but putting it first perhaps adds more to the experience :-)

[adrianf74]

As stated, soundchecks were a privilege for you to be a part of so I never share these for that reason.  I usually never process them but do archive them

[checht]

Thanks, everyone. Y'all represent myriad perspectives to consider.

A note: The band in question has made me archivist/audio fixer. They've asked that I help grow their market. We discussed releasing sound check and they said not to release things that make them sound crappy or dumb. Otherwise, whatever. So, clear encouragement to share.

Also want to make a distinction between level setting and rehearsal. Level setting isn't very interesting to listen to, and rehearsal can sometimes be pretty cool. I tend to release rehearsal material, and skip the 70 hits to the floor tom while we figure out where the honking in the PA is.

But, my question was actually 'before or after main show'. As is often the case, Gut's reply swayed me. It's easy to jump to the first song of the show, and placing soundcheck first aligns with how things happened in real time.

Thanks!

[Gutbucket]

Not things that make them sound crappy or dumb.. no need for documented level setting or70 floor tom hits.. and some bands not wanting soundcheck released at all.  -All totally reasonable.

Certainly we have a bit more leeway in editing this kind of stuff when it does get included. Whichever way, best kept mindful and respectful.

[morst]

If it's significant enough to release, I'd say make a separate file set.
My only usual procedure is that if I do record a check, I don't work on it or release it.
I might track out the song titles and land them in the extras folder, along with anything else that is not for release, but is additional related  historic documentation.


My mileage might vary outside California.
https://archive.org/details/davealvin2004-11-05.SBD-flac16
This Dave Alvin set from 20 years ago last week has the check at the start, in real time sequence.

[anodyne33]

My mileage might vary outside California.
https://archive.org/details/davealvin2004-11-05.SBD-flac16
This Dave Alvin set from 20 years ago last week has the check at the start, in real time sequence.

I really hate that in the last two years I've seen them in seated, no place to tape venues.